IIT Kharagpur Board of Governors lauds institution for foray into medical education

IIT-KGP expands into medical education, offering MBBS and postgraduate programs, with plans for a new medical college.

Chairperson of the Board of Governors of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (IIT-KGP), T.V. Narendran, lauded the institute’s foray into medical education and said it is the first IIT in the country to do so, at his address at the institute’s 70th convocation on December 30.

Mr Narendran, who serves as the Chief executive officer (CEO) and Managing Director of Tata Steel Limited, also highlighted that IIT-KGP is set to expand its scope of health education with a medical college under the name of Dr B.C. Roy Multi-Specialist Research Centre.

“IIT Kharagpur has become the first IIT in India to broaden its educational scope by offering both MBBS and postgraduate medical programs, along with healthcare services, through strategic partnerships with AIIMS Kalyani and AIIMS Delhi,” he said.

“In addition, the institute is poised to take another giant leap by establishing a Medical College under the visionary name of the Dr. B.C. Roy Multi-Specialist Research Centre, alongside the expansion of allied health education,” he added.

IIT-KGP Director Virendra Kumar Tewari said to improve the connectivity of the upcoming medical institution and multispeciality hospital, a 1.55 km long, 5.50m wide bituminous road was also constructed this year. 

“At the same time,  a multi-storey (G+7) facility is being constructed to accommodate 56 staff…. The total plinth area of the proposed facility is about 4925 sqm with 56  parking places for the occupants costing ₹ 22.50 Cr,” Mr Tewari announced at the convocation.

It is worth noting that in December this year,  following directions of the Union Ministry of Education, the IIT-KGP administration ordered the relocation of staff and infrastructure from Dr. B.C. Roy Technology Hospital (BCRTH) on campus to the new 400-bed Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Superspeciality Hospital (SPMSH) on the outskirts of campus in Balarampur, leading to widespread protests among students and faculty.